Press Win + X → or Command Prompt (Admin) .
For Workstation Pro 15+, also add:
If the above steps fail, your BIOS might have hardware virtualization enabled AND your specific Denuvo version is extremely sensitive. This is rare, but effective.
The "Sorry, this application cannot run under a Virtual Machine" error in Dead Space 3 is a classic example of legacy DRM failing to adapt to modern PC security environments. What EA designed to stop pirates has ended up blocking legitimate players who simply have Windows Core Isolation, Hyper-V, or a security suite running.
Restart your computer again. If you ever need to re-enable it, use the same process but replace off with auto .
During the early 2010s, Avast released a specific patch to solve this conflict. While the original 20130304.exe patch is dated, the logic remains. Go into Avast Settings > Troubleshooting and uncheck the box labeled " Enable avast! self-defense module ". After disabling this, restart your PC and try launching Dead Space 3 .
If none of the software-level fixes have worked, the problem might be at the hardware level. Enter your computer’s BIOS/UEFI settings (usually by pressing Delete , F2 , or F12 during startup) and look for an option like or AMD-V . Set it to Disabled . Once you have disabled virtualization, you should be able to run Dead Space 3 without any issues.
Disabling virtualization will break any software that requires it (WSL, Android Studio emulators, VMware, etc.).
If you are experiencing this error, this guide will walk you through the most effective workarounds, ranging from registry tweaks to disabling virtual machine flags. Why Is Dead Space 3 Displaying This Error?
"Sorry, This application cannot run under a Virtual Machine."
Below is a comprehensive guide containing step-by-step workarounds to resolve this conflict and launch your game smoothly. Step 1: Turn Off Windows Virtualization Features
Here are the most effective solutions to bypass this error, starting with the simplest. 1. Disable Windows Virtualization Features